Wynn Resorts is reportedly weighing up a delay to the opening of its casino resort in the United Arab Emirates following the most recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
Wynn Al Marjan Island, the resort being developed in Ras Al Khaimah, is expected to cost $3.9bn-$5.1bn and is scheduled to open during the spring of next year. However, according to a recent Bloomberg report, that date may now be delayed.
The project would be the first regulated casino resort in the country, but ongoing conflict in the Middle East has caused a significant impact across industries, business and tourism in the wider region.
The casino operator announced back in March that its construction project had resumed following a short pause, with steps “taken to ensure the safety and security of all employees working on site” and that it would continue to monitor the situation.
A delicate ceasefire between Iran and the US had been thrown into further turmoil after Iranian attacks on the UAE and further exchanges in the Gulf. Following which Tehran stated it was “just getting started”.
There were hopes that a ceasefire would bring a level of security to the wider Gulf nations that had previously been destabilised by the conflict, but those hopes appear to be fading as the ceasefire looks increasingly fragile.
Wynn Resorts’ prior confidence
In its statement earlier this year, Wynn Resorts said: “The Wynn Design and Development team overseeing the construction, architecture, and design of project, and the resort executive team leading operational strategy and planning, have been able to continue their work in a consistent manner.
“Wynn employees have been offered the opportunity to work from abroad, if their home embassy recommends they do so.”
Investors may not have to wait much longer to find out if the project’s opening has been delayed, as Wynn Resorts is expected to publish its financial results for the first quarter of 2026 on 7 May after the US stock market closes.
The UAE’s gambling regulator, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), awarded Wynn Resorts a gaming operator licence for Wynn Al Marjan Island in October 2024.
MGM Resorts International is also constructing a non-gaming location in the country. Chief Executive Officer Bill Hornbuckle recently stated that the operator sees the potential of its non-gaming management deal to bring its brands to the region alongside Wasl Hospitality in Dubai, as it could be the site of a future casino.
A Wynn Resorts spokesperson told iGaming Expert that “the company has not made any announcement about a change in the opening date of Wynn Al Marjan Island”.
